BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Ten local emerging entrepreneurs proved their business potential at the Iumi Gro Business Accelerator Shark Tank finale, an initiative funded by the Australian High Commission (AHC) under its private sector development program.

A statement from AHC said the 10 local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) received five months of intensive training, mentoring, and business development support, and were then able to pitch their growth strategies to a panel of judges and investors.

The five winners are Cravings, SolAgro, B&E Diving, Aelan Cruise and CEMs Holdings, and they each secured SBD100,000 in co-investment to support their businesses.

AHC said the runners-up; Menah Fish Supplies, Shine Bright Cleaning Services, Storeroom Productions, Sone Logistics and Smart Technology secured support from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) to continue strengthening their businesses.

Founder of CEMs Holdings, Rose Korinihona, described the program as transformative.

“The Accelerator pushed us to refine our vision and sharpen our strategy. Pitching at the Shark Tank finale was both challenging and inspiring, and this support will help us take the next step in growing our business,” she said.

Minister for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, (MWYCFA) Cathy Nori, highlighted the important role of women in business.

“Women are capable and effective business leaders. Despite the challenges they face, women entrepreneurs continue to demonstrate resilience and determination.

“When women participate in economic development, the benefits extend beyond individuals to families and entire communities, creating more inclusive and sustainable growth,” she said.

Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Jeff Roach, commended the participants.

“Congratulations to all ten Iumi Gro SMEs for delivering outstanding presentations of your business plans.

“Australia will always support new and ambitious local businesses. They are the future of the country’s private sector and key to delivering more jobs and higher incomes for Solomon Islanders,” he said.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), Riley Mesepitu said the finale reflected the strength of Solomon Islands’ small business community.

“Our entrepreneurs are resilient and forward-looking. Through this partnership with Australia, we are equipping them with the tools, confidence, and investment support needed to grow sustainable businesses that create opportunities for our people,” he said.

The Australian High Commission said the Iumi Gro Business Accelerator is the first initiative of its kind in Solomon Islands and reflects Australia’s ongoing support for local businesses and the broader private sector to generate more jobs and increase incomes in the Solomon Islands.

Photo credit: AHC

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Technology is transforming economies and societies everywhere and for Solomon Islands this presents both an opportunity and risk, says Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Vice Chancellor, Dr Transform Aqorau.

He voiced this when he delivered the New Academic Year Opening Address 2026 for SINU at the university’s Panatina campus last Wednesday.

Vice Chancellor Aqorau said technological through automation, artificial intelligence, and digital connectivity are changing how we work, how we learn, and how we understand the world around us.

“For Solomon Islanders, this presents both an opportunity and risk,” he said.

Aqorau said we have the chance to leapfrog all barriers, improving telemedicine in our remote islands, using e-learning to reach students far from our campuses, and fostering digital entrepreneurship among our youth.

On the other hand, he said if we fall behind, we risk widening the development gap.

Hence, Aqorau said we must invest in information, communication, technology, infrastructure, and digital skills, so that our people can drive the global knowledge economy.

He also raised that there is also one dimension of this transformation that we must not front-load and it is the rise of artificial intelligence.

Aqorau said tools like ChatGPT and others are not simply new technologies and they are reshaping how knowledge itself is created through access and use.

“In universities around the world, this shift is already unfolding at a pace not seen since the arrival of the Internet. It is no longer something that we can stand aside from.

“Like the tides that shape our islands, this change is already upon us, and our task is to learn how to navigate it wisely,” he said.

Aqorau said for SINU, this is both a challenge and a responsibility.

He said they must not try to stop what cannot be stopped but instead teach their students how to use these tools, in terms of discipline, integrity and critical thinking.

Aqorau mentioned that university is not simply a place where answers are produced but a place where minds are formed.

He emphasised that their students must learn not to accept everything technologies give them but to question it, test it and apply their own judgement.

Aqorau said this is how knowledge becomes wisdom.

“This means embedding artificial intelligence literacy across all disciplines, supporting our staff to adapt their teaching, and ensuring that technology strengthens rather than weakens their quality of learning,” he said.

Aqorau raised that if they get this right, they will not fall behind but will lead.

“If we get this right, we will not fall behind. We will lead. We will produce graduates who are not only technologically capable, but grounded in values, able to think for themselves, and ready to serve their communities in our rapidly changing world,” he said.

Photo credit: Loretta B Manele

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BY ALICE T CAMPBELL

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) recorded 142 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under its 2026 call for applications for the Commercial Rice Development Programme (CRDP) and Poultry Production Strengthening Programme (PPSP).

A statement from the Ministry last Friday said the strong response highlights growing national interest in commercial agriculture and reinforces the importance of these programmes in supporting food security, economic growth, and import substitution in the Solomon Islands.

MALD said from the total EOIs received, the majority were poultry-related projects, particularly proposals for broiler and layer farm establishments.

“This trend reflects increasing confidence among farmers and agribusinesses in the poultry sector as a viable investment opportunity.

“The Ministry noted that the high level of participation shows readiness among local stakeholders to expand domestic production and respond to rising demand for poultry products,” the statement said.

The Ministry said while there is interest in rice farming initiatives, it remains comparatively low, meaning that there is need for continued awareness and targeted support to stimulate investment in domestic rice production.

The EOIs as noted, form part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to address key challenges that are affecting the agriculture sector and of which include; high reliance on imported food, limited production capacity, and underdeveloped value chains.

MALD through its Poultry Production Strengthening Programme (PPSP), aims to tackle constraints such as high feed costs, limited access to quality day-old chicks, and gaps in veterinary and extension services.

“The programme is designed to enhance productivity, improve market access, and support sustainable growth within the poultry industry,” the statement said.

As for the Commercial Rice Development Programme (CRDP), it seeks to boost local rice production in Guadalcanal and Malaita province, with the long-term goal of reducing dependence on imported rice and strengthening national food security.

The Ministry is now moving into the evaluation phase of the EOI process which includes the assessment of and shortlisting of applicants which will be followed by technical planning and implementation.

“The Ministry acknowledges and commends all applicants for their strong interest and participation and remains committed to supporting commercially viable agricultural investments that contribute to the country’s development priorities,” the statement said.

The Ministry’s EOI submission breakdown is as follows;

-MALD EOI-001 has 3 EOI applications for the establishment of a 19,000 egg capacity hatchery in Honiara/Guadalcanal

– MALD EOI – 002 has 2 EOI applications for the establishment of a 10,000 egg capacity hatchery in Honiara/Guadalcanal

– MALD EOI – 003 has 1 EOI application for the establishment of a 5,000 bird poultry parent flock farm in Honiara/Guadalcanal

– MALD EOI – 004 has 9 EOI applications for the establishment of a combined 100 ha maize(corn) production on Guadalcanal

– MALD EOI – 005 has 5 EOI applications for the establishment of a commercial feed mill in Honiara/Guadalcanal

– MALD EOI – 006 has 50 EOI applications for the establishment of 1,000 broiler bird farms in Honiara/Guadalcanal

– MALD EOI – 007 has 71 EOI applications for the establishment of 1,000 layer bird farms in Honiara/Guadalcanal

– MALD EOI – 008 has 1 EOI application for the establishment of 30 ha rice farm in Guadalcanal and 30 ha in Malaita

Photo: Supplied

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

SINU Vice Chancellor, Dr Transform Aqorau said it is time to take stock of how far Solomon Islands and the Pacific region has come and to chart the course ahead.

He made the statement whilst delivering the “New Academic Year Opening Address 2026” at Solomon Islands National University’s (SINU) Panatina Campus last Wednesday.

Aqorau said the world around us is changing rapidly and Solomon Islands faces critical choices.

He said this is a moment to reaffirm our values and our purpose.

“It is a moment to inspire each other to live with truth, to serve with purpose, so that together we can build a higher future for the next generation,” Aqorau said.

He went on to say that the past few years have reminded us that history is not static, but alive and at times unforgiving.

Aqorau said we are living in an era of geopolitical instability and great power rivalries, where the familiar post-Cold War rules based international order is fading.

He said that conflicts and crises far from our shores, from wars that shock the to economic upheavals and pandemics, send ripples that breach even our peaceful Pacific lines, pointing out that the rise of a multi-polar world means that no single country dominates.

“Instead, we see increasing competition among major powers, and our own Pacific region has become a stage for this strategic conflict.

“We hear it said that strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must. As a small nation, this could be a cause for fear and pessimism,” he said.

Aqorau however urged that we should not see themselves as powerless, saying that on the contrary, we have strength and our unity with our Pacific values.

“I urge that we do not see ourselves as powerless because the power of the less powerful starts with honesty, with speaking the truth about our challenges and acting with integrity,” he said.

Aqorau said we must refuse to simply go along to get along when our future is at stake.

He raised that in this predictable geopolitical climate, sovereign islands must stand firm on its principles of sovereignty, peace, respect for international law and work with all partners who respect our values and right to chart our own course.

Aqorau said in this regard, we must also be clear about how we see ourselves as Pacific peoples.

He said we are not small and isolated states scattered across the vast ocean but are part of a greats sea of islands that are connected.

The Vice Chancellor said recognition of our strength does not lie in the size of our land but in the vastness of our ocean, richness of our culture and the solidarity of our region.

He added that it is also reflected in the leaders’ vision of an ocean of peace where our region is not a theatrical contest but a zone of cooperation, stability and collective security shared by Pacific priorities.

Aqorau said in asserting this identity, we reject narratives of our vulnerability that diminish our agency.

“Instead, we affirm that the Pacific can and must chart its own pathway, one grounded in unity, guided by our values, and committed to safeguarding our ocean and our future for generations to come,” he said.

Photo credit: Loretta B Manele

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

One global challenge that looms largely for the Pacific region is climate change.

Delivering the 2026 Academic Opening Address, Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Vice Chancellor, Dr Transform Aqorau voiced the above sentiment.

Addressing educators, stakeholders and SINU students last week at SINU’s Panatina campus, he said we are on the front lines of a climate crisis.

Aqorau said stronger cyclones as we are experiencing, rising sea levels and disruptive weather patterns are not abstract predictions for us but rather our lived reality.

He said the tragic ironies of our small island state, like ours, contribute the least to global emissions.

Aqorau emphasised that while we contribute the least to global emissions of climate change, we face the harshest consequences.

He said climate change threatens villages and livelihoods, and it will test our resilience as a nation.

The Vice Chancellor said at the same time, we must also prepare for climate change by strengthening disaster preparedness, building climate-preserved infrastructure, and educating our people in adaptation strategies.

He highlighted that our region’s traditional wisdom about living in harmony with nature is a precious asset.

“Combining it with modern science, it will help us navigate this period,” he noted.

Photo credit: Loretta B Manele

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Livelihood Sector Committee is awaiting direction from the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) before it rolls out its response to assist communities affected by the Tropical Cyclone Maila.

The committee was activated following the NEOC’s activation on Saturday, 4th April.

Its primary focus is to ensure food security and support livelihood activities in affected communities.

Speaking at a press conference over the weekend, Chairman of the Livelihood Sector Committee, Michael Ho’ota, said the committee comprises of key government ministries, including Forestry, Fisheries, Commerce, and Tourism, working together to coordinate response efforts across sectors.

Ho’ota explained that while a full Initial Damage Assessment (IDA) is planned, the immediate priority is the delivery of food relief to the most affected communities.

He said the IDA is critical to determine the extent of the damage and identify appropriate support, but its rollout will depend on improvements in current weather conditions.

The chairman added that initial assistance will prioritise severely affected areas in Choiseul province and Western province, while also taking into account the needs of other impacted provinces.

Ho’ota further confirmed that the committee has finalised its response plan and submitted it to the NEOC, and is now awaiting approval to begin implementation.

Photo credit: MALD

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Western Province Health and Medical Services appeals to communities to support nurses as they strive to maintain essential health services following the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Maila.

Director of Health and Medical Services, Dickson Boara, made the call after reports confirmed that several rural clinics were damaged during the cyclone, disrupting service delivery in affected areas.

He said two clinics were severely impacted, leaving communities without proper access to healthcare.

“We have received reports that the roof of Tubi Clinic was blown away, while rising sea levels flooded Ugele Clinic during the bad weather,” Boara said.

He said health services in these areas are currently being carried out through home visits until further notice due to the damage.

Boara said community plays an important role in ensuring that healthcare services continue despite the challenges.

He urges community leaders and residents to support nurses working in the affected areas as some health workers were also victims of the cyclone.

“We must understand that some of these nurses are from other provinces, meaning they do not have food gardens. It is important for communities to assist them with local food and other basic needs as they rebuild their lives,” Boara said.

He reassured the public that efforts are being made to continue delivering health services in rural areas, but this will depend on the safety of both nurses and patients.

He said nurses will continue to attend to emergency cases through home visits while the situation improves.

Meanwhile, authorities continue to assess the extent of damage across the province as recovery efforts gradually progress in Gizo and surrounding communities.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The National Disaster Council (NDC) has assured communities affected by the recent category 5 Tropical Cyclone Maila that assistance is on the way.

The relief supplies will be dispatched to affected areas in Western and Choiseul provinces, as well as other impacted communities across the country, as long as weather permits.

The assurance was made by NDC Chairman, who is also the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), David Hiriasia, who said efforts are underway to deliver support as quickly as possible.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday over the weekend, he said cabinet has recently approved an SBD $10 million funding for the response. 

The funding will support the procurement of food relief supplies and cover operational costs for Provincial Emergency Operations Centres, enabling them to respond swiftly to the immediate needs of affected communities.

Hiriasia clarified that the SBD $10 million is an initial allocation for immediate relief, with additional support expected once damage assessments are completed.

He added that following the declaration of a state of disaster for Choiseul and Western provinces by the Minister for MECDM, Trevor Manemahaga, on Friday night, the NDC has assumed control of disaster response operations in the affected areas.

This action is in line with the Disaster Management Plan 2018, which outlines response arrangements for officially declared disaster areas.

The Chairman also acknowledged that other provinces, including Isabel, Central Islands, and Guadalcanal, have been impacted.

While response efforts will be extended to all affected areas, these provinces will remain non-declared unless the NDC determines that a formal declaration is necessary.

Hiriasia emphasised that the response is a whole-of-government effort and expressed appreciation to NGOs and development partners who have already begun supporting the government’s response to Tropical Cyclone Maila.

The chair said the NDC plans to deploy a team to Western province early this week to support the Provincial Disaster Operations Centre with manpower to distribute relief supplies.

He further stressed the need for accurate data to guide response efforts, identify priority areas, and coordinate support from development partners and individuals willing to assist.

Hiriasia reassured affected communities to remain patient as assistance is being mobilised.

Since the weekend, Tropical Cyclone Maila has been moving away from Solomon Islands waters and towards Papua New Guinea. However, people are urged to continue listening to weather updates and to take heed of weather warnings.

Photo credit: Loretta B Manele

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